WCS Chooses Building Plan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Kovert Hawkins, Jeffersonville, is the architectural firm chosen for the project.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth presented the resolution stating that the school board establishes Option A as meeting the needs of the corporation. Dan Robinson, board vice president, said during the bulk of the nine community meetings on the three possible options, the four steps of Option A were presented in a certain order. Haworth, Robinson said, is considering shuffling steps in the option. The approved resolution encompasses all of the option.
[[In-content Ad]]The original Option A is a four-step plan that would be completed in about five years.
Haworth said the change to Option A would come in Steps 1 and 2.
Step 1 is to replace Leesburg with a new four-section school for about $16 million, and expand and renovate both Claypool and Jefferson elementary schools for $10 million each. Total bond issue would be about $45 million.
The original step 2 was to replace Madison Elementary with a new four-section school for $16 million, and construct a new four-section school in the northern part of the school corporation for $16 million. The total bond issue would be about $40 million.
If the board decides to reshuffle steps 1 and 2 as Haworth is considering, a new, larger and relocated Madison Elementary School would be built in the northwestern part of the school corporation under step 1.
"Madison Elementary will no longer be located where it currently is," said Haworth. By moving Madison into step one, he said the school board would have more time to look at growth and needs. The old Madison could be used for other purposes. Tammy Dalton, school board member, said the Madison community at the community meeting held at the school was very receptive to Madison moving.
A new "North" school, as proposed under step 2 of Option A, would be held off until the school board can determine whether a totally new school is necessary, Haworth said.
"The timeline for it could be flexed depending on our growth," said Haworth. Warsaw Schools' elementaries grow by about 80 students per year.
Step 3, under the original Option A, includes additions and renovations to Washington, Lincoln, Harrison and Eisenhower schools as four-section schools for a total estimated bond issue of $17.5 million. The last step would be additions and renovations to the two middle schools for $8 million each for a total bond issue of $20 million.
Total cost for all of Option A is approximately $125 million.
Delores Hearn, school board member, wanted the financial impact addressed of moving Madison into step one.
Todd Samuelson, of Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth, said the original bond issue for Step 1 of Option A was $45 million. If Madison was moved to Step 1, that would increase to about $65 million. However, the overall bond issue for all of Option A would be reduced if Madison is moved into Step 1 (the school corporation would begin paying off the bonds on Madison sooner) and if the new "North" elementary school is eliminated.
As for the tax rate, Samuelson said step 1 of Option A was just more than 13 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. By moving Madison into step 1, that would increase the tax rate another 6 to 6.5 cents to about 19 cents per $100 assessed valuation. As an example, a person with a $100,000 home would pay $6.80 more per month under the original Option A, step 1, but that would increase by about $3 to $10 if Madison is moved to step 1.
At a Feb. 7 community meeting, Umbaugh & Associates presented the tax impact the three options would have to the school corporation. "What surprised all of us here," said Robinson Monday, "is we had almost no feedback on the tax impact. We were shocked and wondered what that means."
School board member Deb Wiggins wanted to know what percentage tax rates would increase with Option A. Samuelson guessed about 15 percent in incorporated areas, but more in areas not within incorporated areas because school districts represent a higher percentage of the tax rate outside incorporated areas.
Haworth said there is a huge tax impact, but the project will resolve some issues such as students learning in broom closets and lockerrooms. He said his rationale for moving Madison into step 1 is that it can impact those learning conditions more quickly. Also, he said in about 60 more days, "we may be handed full-day kindergarten. Where will those kids be housed?"
Robinson said passage of Option A will allow a 1028 hearing to be scheduled. A 1028 hearing, as required by the state legislature, is a public meeting where architects, financial consultants and attorneys present the scope of the project to the community, Haworth said. Robinson said, "In other words, it's a formal community hearing." The board could still scale back the project by then if it chooses, he said.
Before the school board approved Kovert Hawkins to serve as the architectural firm, Haworth presented the firm's fees for Option A, Step 1.
The bond issue for Leesburg Elementary is $16 million. The firm's fees would be 4.57 percent of the project for $920,000, and another 2 percent if they serve as the construction managers, clerk of works and administrators of the project for a total of $1.24 million.
For Claypool, their fee would be 6.25 percent of the school project for $625,000, plus another 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators for a total of $825,000.
For Jefferson, they'd receive 6.25 percent or $625,000, plus another 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators, for a total of $825,000.
And for Madison, they'd receive 3 percent of the cost, plus 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators, for a total of $800,000.
Sauders said to him it seemed like a lot of money. He asked if the roughly 8 percent of the costs for the architect firm's fee was standard.
Warsaw Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said the estimated total cost for the high school project was $34,633,260. The fees for the architect and construction managers was $3,042,101.
For Option A, Step 1, the total cost will be about twice the cost of the high school project at $65 million. The fee for the architect, and for the firm if they also serve as the manager, clerk and administrator, will be $3,690,000.
"That makes me feel better," said board member Chuck Sauders.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, causing overcrowding.
The school board interviewed five architectural firms July 19-20. On Aug. 10, the board met to discuss the results of those interviews, during which time more questions were developed. On Aug. 23, the board chose Kovert Hawkins, Jeffersonville.
Kovert Hawkins developed three options, including Option A. Option B was to move the sixth grade into the middle schools, and Option C was to build an academy just for the sixth grade.
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Kovert Hawkins, Jeffersonville, is the architectural firm chosen for the project.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Haworth presented the resolution stating that the school board establishes Option A as meeting the needs of the corporation. Dan Robinson, board vice president, said during the bulk of the nine community meetings on the three possible options, the four steps of Option A were presented in a certain order. Haworth, Robinson said, is considering shuffling steps in the option. The approved resolution encompasses all of the option.
[[In-content Ad]]The original Option A is a four-step plan that would be completed in about five years.
Haworth said the change to Option A would come in Steps 1 and 2.
Step 1 is to replace Leesburg with a new four-section school for about $16 million, and expand and renovate both Claypool and Jefferson elementary schools for $10 million each. Total bond issue would be about $45 million.
The original step 2 was to replace Madison Elementary with a new four-section school for $16 million, and construct a new four-section school in the northern part of the school corporation for $16 million. The total bond issue would be about $40 million.
If the board decides to reshuffle steps 1 and 2 as Haworth is considering, a new, larger and relocated Madison Elementary School would be built in the northwestern part of the school corporation under step 1.
"Madison Elementary will no longer be located where it currently is," said Haworth. By moving Madison into step one, he said the school board would have more time to look at growth and needs. The old Madison could be used for other purposes. Tammy Dalton, school board member, said the Madison community at the community meeting held at the school was very receptive to Madison moving.
A new "North" school, as proposed under step 2 of Option A, would be held off until the school board can determine whether a totally new school is necessary, Haworth said.
"The timeline for it could be flexed depending on our growth," said Haworth. Warsaw Schools' elementaries grow by about 80 students per year.
Step 3, under the original Option A, includes additions and renovations to Washington, Lincoln, Harrison and Eisenhower schools as four-section schools for a total estimated bond issue of $17.5 million. The last step would be additions and renovations to the two middle schools for $8 million each for a total bond issue of $20 million.
Total cost for all of Option A is approximately $125 million.
Delores Hearn, school board member, wanted the financial impact addressed of moving Madison into step one.
Todd Samuelson, of Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth, said the original bond issue for Step 1 of Option A was $45 million. If Madison was moved to Step 1, that would increase to about $65 million. However, the overall bond issue for all of Option A would be reduced if Madison is moved into Step 1 (the school corporation would begin paying off the bonds on Madison sooner) and if the new "North" elementary school is eliminated.
As for the tax rate, Samuelson said step 1 of Option A was just more than 13 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. By moving Madison into step 1, that would increase the tax rate another 6 to 6.5 cents to about 19 cents per $100 assessed valuation. As an example, a person with a $100,000 home would pay $6.80 more per month under the original Option A, step 1, but that would increase by about $3 to $10 if Madison is moved to step 1.
At a Feb. 7 community meeting, Umbaugh & Associates presented the tax impact the three options would have to the school corporation. "What surprised all of us here," said Robinson Monday, "is we had almost no feedback on the tax impact. We were shocked and wondered what that means."
School board member Deb Wiggins wanted to know what percentage tax rates would increase with Option A. Samuelson guessed about 15 percent in incorporated areas, but more in areas not within incorporated areas because school districts represent a higher percentage of the tax rate outside incorporated areas.
Haworth said there is a huge tax impact, but the project will resolve some issues such as students learning in broom closets and lockerrooms. He said his rationale for moving Madison into step 1 is that it can impact those learning conditions more quickly. Also, he said in about 60 more days, "we may be handed full-day kindergarten. Where will those kids be housed?"
Robinson said passage of Option A will allow a 1028 hearing to be scheduled. A 1028 hearing, as required by the state legislature, is a public meeting where architects, financial consultants and attorneys present the scope of the project to the community, Haworth said. Robinson said, "In other words, it's a formal community hearing." The board could still scale back the project by then if it chooses, he said.
Before the school board approved Kovert Hawkins to serve as the architectural firm, Haworth presented the firm's fees for Option A, Step 1.
The bond issue for Leesburg Elementary is $16 million. The firm's fees would be 4.57 percent of the project for $920,000, and another 2 percent if they serve as the construction managers, clerk of works and administrators of the project for a total of $1.24 million.
For Claypool, their fee would be 6.25 percent of the school project for $625,000, plus another 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators for a total of $825,000.
For Jefferson, they'd receive 6.25 percent or $625,000, plus another 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators, for a total of $825,000.
And for Madison, they'd receive 3 percent of the cost, plus 2 percent if they serve as managers, clerk and administrators, for a total of $800,000.
Sauders said to him it seemed like a lot of money. He asked if the roughly 8 percent of the costs for the architect firm's fee was standard.
Warsaw Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott said the estimated total cost for the high school project was $34,633,260. The fees for the architect and construction managers was $3,042,101.
For Option A, Step 1, the total cost will be about twice the cost of the high school project at $65 million. The fee for the architect, and for the firm if they also serve as the manager, clerk and administrator, will be $3,690,000.
"That makes me feel better," said board member Chuck Sauders.
At the end of the 2003-04 school year, Atwood, Silver Lake and Claypool elementary schools were closed. Since then, students at those schools have been transported to other schools, causing overcrowding.
The school board interviewed five architectural firms July 19-20. On Aug. 10, the board met to discuss the results of those interviews, during which time more questions were developed. On Aug. 23, the board chose Kovert Hawkins, Jeffersonville.
Kovert Hawkins developed three options, including Option A. Option B was to move the sixth grade into the middle schools, and Option C was to build an academy just for the sixth grade.
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